Team Haney to bid on Teofimo Lopez vs George Kambosos
In 2018, WBC Lightweight champion Devin “The Dream” Haney (25-0, 15KO), only a prospect, became the youngest promoter in boxing. This would later lead to him inking a multi-million dollar co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing and his fight under Devin Haney Promotions appearing on the DAZN. It seems as if that move is about to pay off in a big way.
Top Rank head honcho Bob Arum, during an interview with Fights Freaks Unite, revealed the fight between unified lightweight champion “The Takeover” Teofimo Lopez and IBF mandatory challenger George Kambosos Jr will go to a purse bid. The legendary promoter acknowledged the problem was with his own fighter and not Team Kambosos.
“We haven’t been able to reach a deal for whatever reason and this is not a marquee fight. If somebody outbids us it’s fine. I don’t care, it’s fine.”
That last statement opens up a major opportunity. The WBC champion’s father, Bill Haney, had an interview with Fight Hype. He brought up when the unified champion asked for ten million to fight his son, and then he dropped a huge bombshell.
“He not going to get ten million if we bid on it. I am not going to say what we going to do, but we’ve been talking about Devin Haney Promotions going and bidding on the fight.”
“It could be a possibility. Bob ain’t putting no money on it, he already said he don’t care.”
Imagine Lopez fighting under the banner of his arch-rival’s promotional company. The level of dislike these two have for each other is seriously deep-rooted. This rivalry goes back to their amateurs days and has only gotten even more intense in their professional careers.
The Takeover coined the phrase “email champion” in reference to The Dream. Haney responded by calling his counterpart “the first-ever asterisk champion.”
Furthermore, if Team Haney was to win the purse bid, it is something the WBC champion would never let his divisional nemesis live down. It would be the ultimate clap back.
The purse bid is scheduled to take place on February 18 at 12 PM EST. Bill Haney would send one final message to the unified champion.
“Just be looking for that bid, look for that bid Teo!”
By: Garrisson Bland
